14 Pieces of Furniture, Lighting, and Small Objects Designed by Architects at Milan Design Week 2025

 Milan Design Week 2025 was held from April 8 to April 13, 2025. During these five days, the city of Milan hosted a series of special events, exhibitions, installations, and discussions centered around creative disciplines, including the 63rd edition of the Salone del Mobile at the Milan Fairgrounds. The event served as an ideal opportunity to introduce the latest trends and showcase upcoming works from global brands and designers. Among the new product launches, the ArchDaily team selected several pieces designed by renowned architects—from lighting and furniture systems to materials and small objects.

Lighting Systems

As part of Euroluce 2025, the biennial lighting exhibition of Milan Design Week, several acclaimed architects and designers unveiled new lighting collections. These works explored innovative combinations of materials, structures, and light. Below, we highlight four designs by BIG, Arup, Snøhetta, and Dordoni Studio, each offering a unique interpretation of light and form.

Arctic Lighting Collection / BIG for Artemide
Arctic, designed by BIG, is a modular lighting system that employs mirrored and transparent surfaces to create geometric compositions. The design consists of interlocking pentagonal elements surrounding a central light-diffusing sphere, skillfully utilizing reflection and transparency. The system is available in ceiling, floor, pendant, and table lamp versions, features dimmable lighting, and can be customized through its modular configuration.

Aura Pendant Lamp / Snøhetta for Viabizzuno
Developed in collaboration with Viabizzuno, Snøhetta’s Aura Collection focuses on controlling light through precisely designed prisms and diffusers. This modular system prioritizes the quality of light itself rather than the form of the fixture, providing both functional and design flexibility. The Aura pendant lamp is available in multiple diameters and configurations, adapting to different architectural settings and lighting needs.

Internode Table Lamp / Arup for Artemide
Internode, designed by Stephen Phillips at Arup, employs bamboo arms to ensure both sustainability and structural stability. Reinterpreting the adjustability of a lamp, the design avoids springs by instead using friction and counterweights. Zamak weights and an aluminum head provide effective heat dissipation while keeping the structure lightweight.

Étoile Chandelier / Dordoni Studio for Foscarini
Étoile, designed by Dordoni Studio for Foscarini, comes in two versions: Grande Étoile and Étoile Ronde. Both feature a central Pyrex glass cylinder supporting branching diffusers made of etched blown glass. With no visible structural components, the lighting elements intersect or radiate outward, creating a sense of lightness and spatial rhythm. The design artfully combines minimal hardware with a sculptural composition.

Small-Scale Objects Designed by Architects

A series of small objects designed by architects were also presented at Milan Design Week 2025, highlighting the intersection of architecture, craftsmanship, and everyday life. From sculptural teapots and urns to modular bird feeders and stools made of recycled materials, each piece blended functionality, craftsmanship, and cultural meaning.

Ori Bird Feeder / Foster + Partners
In collaboration with Danese Milano, Foster + Partners unveiled the Ori bird feeder— a sculptural feeder that can be suspended, placed on the ground, or set in a water basin. Made of aluminum and stainless steel, its modular design allows easy cleaning and adaptability to different bird species and food types. By prioritizing easy disassembly and sanitization, the feeder aims to reduce the spread of disease while also serving as a decorative element for outdoor spaces.

Affinity Monochrome Furniture / NEUTRA under the creative direction of Migliore + Servetto
During Milan Design Week 2025 at Palazzo Visconti, NEUTRA launched the Affinity monochrome furniture collection under the creative guidance of Migliore + Servetto. The series employs modular components—including seating, tables, lighting, and storage units—emphasizing essential forms, natural materials, and customizable configurations.

Milan: A Rising Design Capital

Known as a global fashion and financial hub, Milan is increasingly establishing itself as a leading center for architecture and design. Following Milan Design Week and the Salone del Mobile, the city is now preparing to host the 2026 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The official Olympic torch—designed by Carlo Ratti Associati in collaboration with Eni Group and its subsidiary Versalis—was unveiled at the Triennale di Milano as part of parallel events with Expo 2025 Osaka. Meanwhile, the city is investing in new infrastructure to welcome athletes and visitors, including the San Giulio Ice Hockey Arena designed by David Chipperfield Architects and Arup, a new Olympic Village by SOM, and the redevelopment of the Porta Romana rail yard into a diverse green community by Diller Scofidio + Renfro, PLP Architecture, Carlo Ratti Associati, Arup, and OUTCOMIST.